Knowing the stresses and challenges of being a firefighter, it’s remarkable to see this many people selflessly serving their communities across our great country!! Unfortunately though, the great recession has been causing the number (and the percentage) of Volunteer Firefighters to decline in the last few years. Some of these Volunteers have needed to pick up paid work opportunities like overtime and a second job. The great recession has also brought a tightening to the budget capacities of many municipalities, states and even federal funding grants. As a result, more pressure is being put on the remaining Volunteers along with their aging firefighter gear. Obviously the hope is that as our economy expands again, we’ll also see our rank of Volunteers grow and their local Fire Departments will be able to modernize their fire fighting equipment stock.
Volunteer Fire: Where is it headed?
Of the 1.1 million firefighters in the U.S., roughly 70% are Volunteers! Knowing the stresses and challenges of being a firefighter, it’s remarkable to see this many people selflessly serving their communities across our great country!! Unfortunately though, the great recession has been causing the number (and the percentage) of Volunteer Firefighters to decline in the last few years. Some of these Volunteers have needed to pick up paid work opportunities like overtime and a second job. The great recession has also brought a tightening to the budget capacities of many municipalities, states and even federal funding grants. As a result, more pressure is being put on the remaining Volunteers along with their aging firefighter gear. Obviously the hope is that as our economy expands again, we’ll also see our rank of Volunteers grow and their local Fire Departments will be able to modernize their fire fighting equipment stock.
Knowing the stresses and challenges of being a firefighter, it’s remarkable to see this many people selflessly serving their communities across our great country!! Unfortunately though, the great recession has been causing the number (and the percentage) of Volunteer Firefighters to decline in the last few years. Some of these Volunteers have needed to pick up paid work opportunities like overtime and a second job. The great recession has also brought a tightening to the budget capacities of many municipalities, states and even federal funding grants. As a result, more pressure is being put on the remaining Volunteers along with their aging firefighter gear. Obviously the hope is that as our economy expands again, we’ll also see our rank of Volunteers grow and their local Fire Departments will be able to modernize their fire fighting equipment stock.